That's Fit

Green for Life Diet Review

Myatt Murphy — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 12:00:00 EST

Diet Review Although it does sometimes lean towards the holistic side at times, "Green for Life" is a bit different than other books based on the notion of blending raw foods for health, vitality and weight loss. Even though the author spends a lot of time explaining the importance of adding greens into your diet, she doesn't leave readers with the sense that they can't accomplish their health and wellness goals without using her smoothie recipes. Instead, "Green for Life" aims to help people add greens to their diet, which should leave them feeling more full throughout the day (and therefore making them less likely to eat as much during meals) and boost their nutrient intake as they get more vitamins, minerals and fiber into their daily routine. What's most interesting about "Green for Life" is that it reveals how nutritious certain parts of vegetables that we typically throw away actually are. For example, the green leaves of a beet are seven times richer in calcium and 192 times more fortified in vitamin A than the actual beet. Even the leaves of a turnip have 2,500 times more vitamin K than the turnip itself. This kind of information is useful for dieters, who may gain a better understanding of the nutritional value of certain foods they otherwise would pass by. However, the biggest concern is how the book leaves the reader somewhat confused at the end. In the book, the author does a thorough job of explaining the difference between vegetables and greens (yes, there's a difference, and according to the title of the book, eating more greens is the ultimate goal). However, nearly all of the smoothie recipes recommended at the end of the book are made from assorted fruits and vegetables, not greens. Even though the smoothies are tasty and packed with nutrients, they don't sync very well with the rest of the information. Is the Diet Healthy? For the most part. The problem with the word "smoothie" is that it's attached to fad diets that are typically nutritionally imbalanced. But because "Green for Life" is less of a diet and more of a "suggestion," it's hard to argue that getting more nutrient-packed greens on a daily basis wouldn't be beneficial. The smoothies in "Green for Life" are not meal replacements but are meant to be enjoyed throughout the day as you would any beverage. Since many people typically turn to less healthier and/or sugar-dense beverage choices (such as soda, fruit juices and coffee drinks), advising people to drink all-natural smoothies that are richer in nutrients and fiber instead is certainly a smarter option. What Do the Experts Say? "One positive of 'Green for Life' is that I love anyone that promotes eating more fruits and vegetables," says registered dietician, certified dietician/nutritionist and spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association Keri Gans, "I'm also happy to see that the smoothies are made in a way that retains the food's fiber content, since eating plenty of fiber isn't just essential for its' nutrient value, but giving dieters a more satiated feeling throughout the day." However, there are a few points that concern Gans, the first being some of the benefits behind blending vegetables into a smoothie form. "Although it claims that the nutrients within certain foods are more effectively absorbed after rupturing their cellular walls, I am not familiar with science that supports that theory," she says. Gans' other big concern is with the loose guidelines on how much you should drink throughout the day. Although it seems to recommend drinking one quart daily, there are times when it seems perfectly fine to consume larger quantities. "Because many of the smoothie recipes in the book are higher in calories because they're fruit-based, some individuals looking to lose weight might end up drinking additional calories per day that may not be needed, depending on what the rest of their meals look like," she says. "I also wouldn't want to see dieters 'only' drinking smoothies to get their vegetables, instead of also having them with their meals as well, since eating vegetables 'with' meals is essential to help fill you up," says Gans, "Although I agree that most people need to eat more vegetables in general, I would still prefer to make sure they're eaten in whole form, as well as with their meals, instead of only in between." Who Should Consider the Diet? Anyone looking for a way to sneak more nutrients into their current diet without having to change what they're already doing. Bottom Line Don't let the word 'smoothie' scare you into thinking Green For Life is another "lose weight fast" fad diet. In a nutshell, the book is really a non-preachy approach to explaining the importance of eating more plant-based foods, then shows you how simple it is to add them into your daily routine with little effort and a lot of healthy results. What You Can Eat The smoothies may include a variety of fruits, vegetables, weeds, herbs and sprouts, including bananas, celery, blueberries, Romaine and red leaf lettuce, mangos, pears, kale and spinach. What you can't: Nothing in particular (Although the author did create Green For Life as a way to add more nutrients into a raw food lifestyle -- and is a raw foodist herself-dieters that don't follow a raw food lifestyle can still use the book.)

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